Minnesota Doles Out COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Pharmacy Partners, Opens Third Community Clinic in Rochester

Unsplash

(KNSI) – This week, Minnesota is sending more COVID-19 vaccine doses to pharmacies in its effort to vaccinate Minnesota’s seniors.

Governor Tim Walz announced Monday that Minnesota will send 24,000 vaccine doses to Walgreens, Thrifty White and Walmart pharmacies around the state to be given to Minnesotans 65 and older.

With 16,000 doses between them, Walmart and Thrifty White are participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which starts this week. The additional 8,000 doses for Walgreens pharmacies will be split between 40 locations statewide.

“We are giving Minnesotans expanded options for how they can get the vaccine,” Walz said. “The vaccine supply remains extremely limited, but we are developing a strong and reliable network of different ways Minnesotans can get vaccinated. We are committed to meeting Minnesotans where they are and will continue to work relentlessly to give everyone access to the vaccine no matter where they live.”

A third permanent community vaccine clinic in Rochester will also open its doors this week, joining the two other community clinics in Minneapolis and Duluth. Walz’s office says 1,500 seniors can get vaccinated at the Rochester site this week.

As for school staff and child care employees, their COVID-19 vaccination opportunities are mostly coordinated through county-level public health clinics.

The community clinics, private healthcare providers and pharmacies administering vaccines to the current priority groups are listed on the state’s Find My Vaccine web page. Walz’s office also notes that the more than 220,000 Minnesota seniors who are on the state’s community vaccination waitlist may be contacted to set up a vaccine appointment if there is an opportunity in their area.